Chapter 62

“…wound up dumped in the street. I found a shelter and did the deal cold. They helped me get on my feet. They called my parents, who swore I was dead. They had the certificate all made out, nice and neat.”

“Damn,” Anya said, as she shook her head, “God damn. What did you do?”

“Jonesy, a social worker at the shelter gave me a DNA test and got a court order. I signed an agreement that in return for living expenses and college, I wouldn’t darken their door or file charges of abuse. I stayed on at the shelter, went to Temple and wound up with a degree in social work, running the shelter, until all of this. One of the bitches on board is the daughter of my father’s friend. He told his family in confidencewhat a whore I was, so that his own daughter wouldn’t be tainted.” Syn looked at Anya in defiance, expecting her contempt and conceding to it without a struggle.